Category: MOSQUITO CONTROL

What Exactly Are No-See-Ums?

 

Did you see that little bug? If it was a no-see-um, probably not. What is a no-see-um? They’re small, blood-sucking gnats just barely visible to the naked eye. They’re actually from a family of biting flies. But unlike their much bigger cousin, you can’t see no-see-ums. You may not be able to see them, but you will definitely feel their bite. These pesky little bugs can inflict big pain, and like mosquitos, only the females bite. They prefer warm weather and love hanging out along coastal areas with lots of water and marshland. Some people call no-see-ums tiny biting gnats, while others call them biting midges, but everyone calls them annoying.

How Big Are No-See-Ums?

No-see-ums are really small. They’re only about 0.03 inches long, which is even smaller than fleas.  And because they’re so tiny, they can easily fit through screens on windows, doors, and on your lanai. These slow-movers usually travel in swarms.

Do No-See-Ums Bites Hurt?

No-see-um bug bites in Florida are painful. And to think, you didn’t see it coming. Even after you feel that powerful sting and go to swat whatever’s biting you, you see nothing at all, because the attacker is so small. Adding to the biting drama, it could take hours to even days before you’ll notice the large, red welts on your skin that these biting bugs leave behind. If you suffer from allergies, you may experience extreme itchiness.

How Do I Treat No-See-Um Bites?

No-see-um bug bite treatment is fairly simple. Wash the area with soap and warm water, and apply rubbing alcohol. If there’s swelling, apply ice packs. You can also use over-the-counter medicines, such as calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream to help relieve the itching, but try not to scratch the itch. The aloe vera plant also works well for both the itching and the pain. If these home remedies for no-see-um bites don’t help and if your condition gets worse, see a doctor.

When Do No-See-Ums Come Out?

These warm-weather lovers come out mostly in the summertime, though they can be present year-round in some parts of South Florida. They’re most active at dawn and dusk, which are peak biting times, and usually gather poolside or near any other standing pools of water. No-see-ums actually breed in moist dirt (they love damp soil).

No-See-Um Prevention

When outside, you can take some of the same precautions for no-see-ums that you take for mosquitos, including:

  • Drain or cover any standing water.
  • Keep your grass, shrubbery, and bushes trimmed.
  • Try to keep moving to avoid these slow-flyers.
  • Keep lighting to a minimum, since they’re attracted to lights.
  • Protect your property with a mosquito misting system.

How to Get Rid of No-See-Ums

As we just mentioned, a misting system is the best way to handle no-see-ums, mosquitos, and other biting insects. Here at SWAT Mosquito Systems®️, we use rosemary-based sprays and a botanical product – pyrethrum. Both are environmentally friendly pesticides. Our state-of-the-art no-see-um bug and mosquito misting system in Florida is fully automated. It only needs to be sprayed 2 to 3 times a day for 30 to 50 seconds each. You set the timer, for what works best for your schedule.

Reclaim Your Back Yard

It’s time for you to start enjoying your outside property again. Call the best mosquito-control company in South Florida – SWAT Mosquito Systems®️. We’ll come out and discuss your battle with no-see-ums and mosquitos and how we can help you reclaim your backyard. We’re the largest and most respected mosquito control company in Florida. Contact SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ at 1-866-900-7928 to schedule an appointment for a free estimate on our mosquito mist system.

How to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Illnesses on Your Property

 

It’s a known fact: mosquitos can spread illnesses – some, much more serious than others. Worldwide, there are over 20 mosquito-borne illnesses, making mosquitos the world’s deadliest animal. It’s estimated that over one million people around the world die each year from mosquito illnesses. Fortunately, we don’t have as many of those mosquito-borne illnesses here in South Florida, but we have enough to cause problems and warrant concern.

What Diseases Do Mosquitos Cause?

You may be already familiar with the mosquito-borne illnesses found in Florida. They include West Nile virus,  the Zika virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis. Last year alone, Florida reported 29 cases of West Nile, throughout the state. There are many steps you can take towards avoiding mosquito illnesses. It begins with prevention measures around your property.

Steps to Prevent a Mosquito Illness

Look around your yard or property. There’s a lot you can do to keep mosquitos at bay. For starters, drain or cover any standing water, which is where mosquitos lay their eggs. Even the smallest water reservoir is a prime breeding ground.  Keep an eye on the following:

  • Clogged gutters
  • Bird baths
  • Wading/kiddie pools
  • Pots/saucers
  • Toys
  • Dishes/pet water bowls
  • Fountains
  • Buckets
  • Bromeliad plants which store water in their leaves or rosettes

By the way, there are some natural ingredients, including cinnamon and vinegar that you can add to your fountain to keep mosquitos away. If the water in your swimming pool has been treated with chlorine or is constantly circulating, there’s no need to drain your pool.

Your Landscape and Lighting Play a Role

Mosquitos love to hang out in tall grass, shrubbery, bushes, and foliage. This means you need to regularly trim your bushes and trees and mow your lawn, all of which will help keep down mosquito activity. You can also make natural repellants, such as mosquito-repelling plants, a part of your landscape. Think citronella, lavender, peppermint, marigolds, catnip, and basil. You can also replace your outdoor lights with “yellow” bug lights. We offer many LED landscaping options. Don’t forget to cover doorways and windows with screens.


Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites

When outside, you can protect yourself against illnesses from mosquito bites in a number of ways. It helps to wear lighter-colored, looser clothing. Some research suggests that wearing dark-colored clothing can put you on a mosquito’s radar. But we highly suggested getting the entire area treated with a proven and effective mosquito misting system.

Call Us and Experience the SWAT Difference

Call the best mosquito-control company in South Florida – SWAT Mosquito Systems®️. We’ll be more than happy to come out and discuss your mosquito battle and how we can help you and your family avoid mosquito bites and illnesses. We’re the largest and most respected mosquito control company in Florida. Call us today at 1-866-900-7928 for your free estimate.

Mosquito 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Yard’s Worst Enemy

 

There’s no questioning that mosquitoes are a nuisance when it comes to enjoying the outdoors. They bite, you itch, and sometimes they’ll even carry a disease that makes you sick. Whether outside enjoying your weekend with the family or planning a big event, you don’t want these biting insects around. But, where do they come from and why are they such a bother? Today, we’ll take a look at some of the important questions. Like, what are mosquitoes? Why do mosquitoes bite? And, what are some other mosquito facts you might want to know?

What are Mosquitoes?

The first question you might be wondering is what are mosquitoes exactly? It might surprise you to find out, but mosquitoes are actually a group of nearly 3,500 different species of insects. Depending on the species of mosquito, the standard time it takes for one to reach adulthood is about 5 to 114 days. Most mosquitoes lay eggs in water, where they develop into larva, pupa, and then fly from the water source as a fully-grown adult mosquito.

Why do Mosquitoes Bite?

Of course, once a mosquito reaches adulthood, it becomes the pest that we are familiar with. What might surprise you is that many mosquitoes won’t actually feed off the blood of a human. In fact, it is the female mosquito that bites. Which raises the question: why do mosquitoes bite? Understanding it is just the female mosquito that bites, you might have a guess. It has to do with breeding. In fact, the female mosquito needs the blood to help her eggs grow and breed new generations of mosquito. Meanwhile, male mosquitoes will be found feeding on the nectar of plants.

Interesting Mosquito Facts

There are a lot of mosquito myths floating around out there, which can make separating fact from fiction difficult. Looking just at mosquito facts, another question you might wonder is what purpose these insects serve in the environment. Since most mosquitoes feed on the nectar of plants, they, like most insects, actually serve a purpose in germinating new flowers and keeping plants growing. In the wild, they can have a definite impact on the growth of local flowers and plants.

Another interesting fact about mosquitoes is that the name itself means “little fly” in Spanish, an appropriate name considering mosquitoes include nearly 3,500 different types of little flies.

Misting Systems to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

Understanding that mosquitoes are an important part of the ecosystem, it’s important that we realize why we want to keep them around. Of course, the last thing we want is to have them bother us when we are going about our outdoor activities. It’s this reason that mosquito misting systems are such a popular option, especially for homeowners here in Florida. Rather than eliminate the mosquitoes, the idea behind a misting system is that you keep the mosquitoes away. This way, they can continue to serve their purpose in nature without biting you and your family while you’re trying to enjoy outdoor activities.

If you want a custom quote on a mosquito misting system for your home, call today 866-900-7928 for a free estimate and to learn more about how SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ can help.

The Best Ways to Maximize Your Outdoor Spaces

 

Living in South Florida means spending an awful lot of time outdoors. After all, it’s one of the best perks about life in the Sunshine State! But sometimes our outdoor spaces aren’t all they could – or should be. If you are looking for some design inspiration, or maybe just some clever ideas to make your yard the best it can be, you’ve come to the right place! Here are a few of the best ways to maximize your outdoor space.

Think of the Sun – But Don’t Forget the Rain!

According to Russell Groves, of Groves & Co., you should always consider how exposed your yard is when coming up with a design.  In places like South Florida, you need to consider how your outdoor space will deal with constant sunshine. Groves recommends using awnings, plantings, or umbrellas to help shade from the sun. In addition, you should avoid darker colored stones for accent pieces, or as seating, as they tend to get hotter when baking in the sun.

On the flip side, anyone who lives in Florida knows that as much sun as we get, we get just as much rain! If you want to really maximize your outdoor space, you need to take in to account how you can utilize it when the dry, blue skies turn grey and wet. Awnings and patio spaces are great, as they provide guests shelter from the elements.

Landscaping

Landscaping is one of the most critical things you need to consider when attempting to maximize your outdoor space. If you are looking to maximize the potential of your yard, you need to consider how much effort you want to put into maintaining it. If you want a no-fuss yard, consider using lower maintenance plants, or even rocks to decorate the border of your property.

Landscaping, however, entails far more than just how many bushes or palm trees you’ll want. Do you, for example, have any children, or plan to have any children in the future? If so, you may want to avoid a pool. The same applies to if you have pets. Or maybe you’ll need to place a large fence to help drown out sounds from a nearby highway.

Furnishings

Maximizing exterior spaces means choosing the right furnishings for every occasion. Outdoor furniture is the perfect way to make your yard the ideal place to relax and enjoy all that South Florida has to offer. Just make sure that if you aren’t using waterproof furniture that you have adequate awnings and umbrellas to protect from damage.

Control Biting Insects

The outdoors are meant to be enjoyed – don’t let biting insects or no-see-ums ruin your perfect exterior spaces. A custom-designed, mosquito control misting systemwill keep mosquitoes and no-see-ums at bay. Once installed, you can set our misting system to activate three to four times a day for anywhere from 20 to 45 seconds. We recommend misting during the evening and nighttime hours when mosquitoes are most active.

Our SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ kills mosquitoes and no-see-ums without harming the environment. We make it hard for mosquitoes and no-see-ums, but easy for you. You can turn the system off completely, using the remote control or at the control panel. We’re the largest and most respected mosquito control company in Florida.

Call SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ Today

Don’t let mosquitoes invade your little slice of paradise. If you want to stop worrying about mosquitoes and other biting insects, and start enjoying your own backyard and patio, you can get your very own mosquito misting system set up right away. Call SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ at 1-866-900-SWAT and find out how our licensed technicians can help you today.